Striker Folarin Balogun claims that he only ever wanted to join Ligue 1 side Monaco, despite persistent summer transfer links with Inter Milan.
Speaking to UK tabloid the Daily Mail, the 22-year-old US international called joining the French side an “easy decision.”
This summer, Balogun made the switch to Monaco.
This move came in the last few days of the summer transfer window.
There had been a fair bit of transfer interest in the American. This was only natural considering that he had enjoyed a very prolific season in front of goal on loan with Reims the prior campaign.
However, it was Monaco who agreed a deal with Arsenal to sign Balogun.
Therefore, the 22-year-old returns to Ligue 1, where he had his breakout campaign last time around.
Folarin Balogun Since Joining Monaco Was An “Easy Decision” – Despite Inter Links
One of the teams reported to have pursued Balogun this summer was Inter.
And there were reports that the player himself was keen on making the switch to the Nerazzurri.
There were also one or two social media hints from Balogun.
But for his part, the 22-year-old striker has dismissed the idea that he ever had any priority besides Monaco. He has stressed his commitment to his current club.
“In the end, when Monaco were interested it was, really, an easy decision for me,” Balogun said.
“I told my agent: ‘This is the only place I want to go.’ And luckily for me, he made it happen.”
The former Arsenal striker also said that “I felt like for me it was important to go to a side who are competing to win stuff.”
In the end, Inter moved to sign veteran striker Marko Arnautovic from Bologna rather than going after Balogun.
The Nerazzurri then invested in a move for defender Benjamin Pavard from Bayern Munich.
